Is it possible to save resources, improve community services, and help a fellow neighbor all at the same time? If you ask Crystal Lake, the answer is an enthusiastic “Yes!”

In 2015, Crystal Lake’s neighbor, the Village of Lakewood, was in search of a new fire service provider. That summer, Lakewood approached Crystal Lake with a proposal to enlist the Crystal Lake Fire Rescue Department as the new provider with the caveat that the city would provide more efficient and cost-effective services.

Fighting Fires With GIS

Enthusiastic to help, Crystal Lake turned to its GIS program for assistance with the endeavor. To better understand if the city would be able to effectively provide this service, the fire department collaborated with the city’s GIS program to answer the following question: Can the Crystal Lake Fire Rescue Department respond from each station to all areas of Lakewood more effectively than the village’s current provider?

Evaluating Distance Response Times

Crystal Lake’s GIS team created an emergency drive response time map to analyze how long it would take emergency responders to travel from the station to different areas of Lakewood. The team discovered that Crystal Lake is able to respond faster than the current provider. Upon reviewing various resources, Crystal Lake’s bid, and the drive time analysis, Lakewood chose to unite with the Crystal Lake Fire Rescue Department as the community’s new fire protection service provider.

A New Year, A New Beginning

January 1, 2016 marked the first official day of the new fire protection partnership. To ensure that the two communities made a successful transition sans service interruptions, the GIS Program developed a plan to facilitate the changeover. The GIS team and the fire department joined forces to use drive time analysis to map out ideal routes from each station to locations throughout both communities. The results and maps were shared with the staff to inform them of the new coverage area, and fire protection services were set into motion.

By leveraging GIS and coordinating with the fire department, Crystal Lake and Lakewood combined resources and ideas to provide fire services to both communities. This collaboration enabled each community to receive efficient and effective services while saving time and resources.